Demons from the Ancient World

[Nogrod]

If we take the trichotomy (?) as granted: that there are the Valar, the Maiar and the created ones, thence we face the question where do all these like Bombadill, Ungoliant or Glaurung come from.

But they might also be the anomalies, beings that are not just possibly explained by the storyline Tolkien gave us? So Eru couldn't be sure of every minute detail of the creation or didn't wish to intervene in every "detail"? Or that there were ones brought forwards in the creation even the Eru could not fathom - or of which s/he would not wish to steer?

The Ainulindalë in the end was the product of the Ainur making their personal contributions to the harmony (kosmos in Greek, meaning "harmonious whole") and one or more of these sounds they made might be the notes that would bring the balance just by not being the benevolent and good ones... to bring the balance? Had Eru a need to bow to the morality or the good of the being to be what s/he was, or was the good created because s/he willed it in a way it is? Or was there a place for the bad to just create a space for the good?

So where do these anomalies stem from? A good question indeed! And getting a bit too deep in to the metaphysical dimensions of ethics as well...

Tolkien was a catholic, yes he was, but most of his writings tell us that he was not writing a "christian" story here to explain the systematic problems christianity had tried to solve from the middle-ages onwards... More than that I see here a genuine bafflement in front of the distractment of the harmony everyone of us can see. The plight of every true christian - and a true disbeliever too...

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

If we take the trichotomy (?) as granted: that there are the Valar, the Maiar and the created ones, thence we face the question where do all these like Bombadill, Ungoliant or Glaurung come from.

But they might also be the anomalies, beings that are not just possibly explained by the storyline Tolkien gave us? So Eru couldn't be sure of every minute detail of the creation or didn't wish to intervene in every "detail"? Or that there were ones brought forwards in the creation even the Eru could not fathom - or of which s/he would not wish to steer?

I think simply Arda and Middle-earth needed their 'mysteries' just as our world does. There are many things that are or have been in our world that nothing can adequately explain. Just imagine an Arda where everything was explained, everything was logical. Ugh. Where would be the magic in that?

Even if such beings are put down to having been designed or brought forth by Eru for some reason, the fact that none of the Children can explain where they came from only underlines Eru's own mystery and such a level of greatness that simply cannot be explained by pathetic human (or Elven) minds.

[Saurreg]

Hence the old saying, "God (in this case Eru) moves/works in mysterious ways"

[Annatar!]

Luthien transforms herself into Thuringwethil, Sindarin for 'woman of secret shadow'. She was a messenger of Saurons in the first age who i believe only took the form of a giant vampire bat, not actually being a vampire. Perhaps this ability to transform also indicates that she too was a 'corrupted' Maiar or another enigma or anomoly of the story. I just love how Tolkien plants them everywhere throughout his stories so we can let our imaginations run free!